Corn-harvester.



P. R. WRIGHT.

CORN HARVESTER.

APPLGATION FILED JUNE l, 1912. I 1,1 13,857. Patented 0ct.13,1914.

4 SHEETS-'SHEET l.

51u vente@ Silo/wieg F. B.. WRIGHT.

CORN HARVESTER. APPLICATION 111.1111111111111 1,1912.

4 SHEETS-'SHEET 2.

F. R. WRIGHT. v

CORN HARVESTER.

APPLICATION FILED .TUNE l, 1912.

l l 1 3,857. Patented Oct. 13, 1914.

4 'SHEETS-SHEET s.

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f. R. WRIGHT. CORN HARVESTER.

'APPLICATION-FILED JUNEv 1., 1912.

1,113,857. I Patented o@1;.13,1914,

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

imam/foi fwifwzyw FRANK R. werent, or WINFRED, sourir :carrer-a.

' CORN-HARVESTER.

1/ 'o all 101mm 'it may concern:

lle it known that I, FRANK R. WRIGHT,

,a citizen of the United States, residing at Winfred, in the county ofLake and State of South Dakota, have invented new and useful Improvements in Corn-Harvesters, of which the following is a speciiicatlon.

rlhis invention relates to corn harvesters of that class in which there is embodied in an organizedmachine mechanism for pickiing or detaching ears from the stalks; hechanism for stripping the husks from the ears; means for conveying the ears from the picking device to the stripping or husking device, and means for 4conveying the husked ears from the husking device to the receptacle, such as the box of a wagon traveling alongside the harvester.

One object of the invention is to construct a corn harvester adapted to operate on one, two ror more rows of corn, according to the dimensions of the picking device and which shall be simple in construction and easily operated.

A further'object of the invention is to simplify and improve the construction of the picking mechanism for detaching the ears from the stalks.

A further object of the invention is to produce a picking mechanism of simple construction which may be easily and veffectively raised or lowered so as to operate with equal eliciency on corn having stalks of different length as well as on down corn.

With these and other` endsv in view which will readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists-in the improved construction and novel arrangement and combination of parts which will be hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings has been illustrated a simple and preferred form ofi the invention, it being, however, understood that no limitation is necessarily made to the precise structural details therein exhibited, but that changes, alterations and modifications within the scope of the claims may be resorted to when desired.

ln the drawings,hFigure 1 is a top plan view of a corn harvester constructed in accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 isa longitudinal sectional view taken on 'theline 3 3 in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a front elevation. Fig. 5 is a transverse section detail view,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led June l, 1912.

Patented et.. t3, lgisl.

Serial No. 701.000.

enlarged, taken on the line 5-5 in F ig. 1. Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional detail view, enlarged, taken on the line 6 6 in Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a perspective detail view of a portion of the pickerdrum, showing one of the picker teeth attach-edthereto. Fig. 8 is a sectional detail view, enlarged, taken on the line 8-8 in Fig. l. Fig. 9 is a sectional.

detail view, in Fig. 2.

Corresponding parts in the several ligures are denoted by like characters of reference. The axle 10 of the machine is supported on a transporting wheel l1 and a bull wheel l2, both of which are mounted for rotation on the axle, and said axle also supports the front end of the push tongue 13, which latter is reinforced by a brace 14. rlhe main frame of the'machine includes in addition to the axle, the tongue and brace 14,- the rear member 15, one end of which is connected with the tongue from which it extends laterally behind the bull wheel, a side bar 16 extending forwardly fromy the rear bar 15, and a yoke vor brace 17 connecting the side bar 16 with the axle. y

Pivotally connected with the axle l0 are two arms 18 constituting theside members of an adjustable frame, said side members supporting at their forward ends, which extend a considerable distance forwardly of the main frame, a shaft 19 carrying the picker drum 20, the latter consisting of a sheet metaldrum of suitable dimensions, the v length of said drum being sufficient to enable it to engage as ina-ny rows of corn' enlarged, taken on the line 9-9 as it may bey desiredto oper-ate upon. Thev ends of the drum are provided with heads 2l which are of a diameter considerably ex ceeding that of the body of the drum beyond which said heads project to form iianges 22 whereby ears of corn will be prevented from dropping at either end. The drinn is equipped with several rows or series of picker teeth E23 which are bolted or otherwise secured thereon, said teeth consisting, as will be best .seen in Fig. 7, of hook-shaped members'which on the front orupgoing side of 'the drum are curved outwardly and upwardly from said drum, so that said picker teeth will serve to enga .e stalks of corn whether such stalks be ciwn or standing. The inner faces of the picker teeth which are opposed to the face of the drum are relatively wide, and said teeth ta er to a relatively sharp outer edge. T e teeth are placed suiliciently close together, say atin tervals of one-half inch, to permit the corn i drum into a conveyer which is .provided to '4 receive the ears, as will be presently described. e

The side members 18 of the movable frame vare reinforced by braces which coperate with said side members* to afford *bearings for a shaft-26b whichfis support-ed a suitable distanceabove the drum carrying shaft 19 and which is provided with radially eX- tending arms 27 adapted to operate between .the picker teeth and constituting beaters whereby the ears that are detached' from the .stalks by the actionof the picker teeth will be thrown in a rearward direction and into a conveyer trough provided for the recap-- tion ofl saidn ears, as will be presently dev scribedij" Itis obvious that the picker drum and the beater shaft may bey operated at any desired relative speed that may be found `most suitable, but it may be. suggested, how' ever, that in practice the'beaterv shaft should be preferably operated at a4 speed considz erably exceeding that ofthe picker drum.

It is also obvious that'the direction-of rota- -tionfshallbe so arranged that while the v picker teeth' onthe front side ofthe drum 1 move upwardly,-tliearms or beaters on the forwardside of" thel beater shaftmove in a e downward ydirection to act effectively on the ears -of-corndet'ached from` the stalks by the picker teeth. t is further obvious that `the beater'arms should be of to insure effective operation.

-Supported for rotation in suitable bearings in rear lof the ,bull wheel is the main driving, 'shaft-'26,.. which receives motion 4frointhe `bull wheel by means including a sprocket wheel27 associated withsa'id bull wheel, asprocket wheel 28 which is loosely mounted on 'the shaft 26,-.a chain or link belt 2.9and a clutch 303,'whereby the sprocket I, -ch","`the sprocketl wheel i to 'revolvei'tllyo'n the d shaft.'4 F

at aai-s s .1Q-verte havnehsw .for this suitable length coperate `tov owing out ofjoperation provided, anl ordinary purpose, but it is obvious that the lever 'for actuating the clutch may be of any desired character vand also that it may be located in a position convenient to the operator to enable the clutch to be thrown by the op- I eratorwithout leaving his station.N

80 designates a longitudinal shaft supported in suitable bearings alongside of the side members 18 of the movable frame, said shaft including a knuckle joint 31 which is in alinement with the axis about which thesidemembers 18 are arranged to swing. Said shaft is driven by means of bevel gearing 32 from the shaft 26. The

forward end of the shaft 30 transmits Ino-4 vpart of said main frame or of the running f ijear or :other accessories will at any time be ableA toobstruct the forward cr upgoing portion of the picker drum.

Supported on theside members 18 of the I movable frame in rear of the picker drum or cylinder is a trough 37 over which an endless conveyer 38 is guided, said conveyer being composed of chains 39 connected at intervals by slats or cross bars 40, said chains being guided at one end of the trough 37 over sprockets 41 on the shaft 30 and at the opposite end of said trough over sprockets 42 rotating idly on a supporting shaft 43. The conveyer operating in the trough 37 will be driven from the shaft 30 which transmits motion to the picker drum and related parts and the conveyer trough will constantly occupy a proper position relatively to the picker drum, being supported on the movable' frame which also supports the said drum.

The main frame of the machine includes a pair of arcuate brackets 44, 45, .one in front and the other in rear of the discharge end of the conveyer 38 which discharges over the shaft 30. The brackets 44, 45 afford bearings 'for the jQurnals of the husking lrolls 46, 47 which are arranged in pairs, and

the several pairs of rolls are disposed in approximately semi-circular series so as to form a trough. The husking rolls ofeach pair are provided with interengaging pinions 48, 49, and the journal at the forward endof'one of-each pair of rolls carriesla pinion 50. j The 'pinions 50 are all 1n4A mesh v"with @the teeth oigan" internal gear 5l which is supportedforrotationon a shaft 52 .that extends e in"V parallel 4relation bo the huskingfyrollsand" e'quidistantl'y from the axes ofsidgrl1s5 v thus occupying an axial i the huslrinfr rolls l Si llheshalt Q carries :i spiral couro l L J i! 'l or auger oswlncn extends the lull. oiifthe trough formed by the. hushro s-'so as to convey ears of corn longitudinali through said trough to he operated h, tire rolls. Suitahly supprted V- hguides or deliectors 54 are arranged the trough wherever needed tor the of deflectinej ears oi corn in the i tion the husling rolls. The shaft is connected hy hevel gearing 553 with the dnl/ingr shaft from which it derives i he seen that hy the rotation of the the internal gear 5l carried hy said shaft will drive one ot' each pair of husliing rolls; the mating rolls heine` driven ,hij the interineshing .pinions 48, 49, thus c unghie rolls to rotate in opposite direc'- tions for the purpose of detaching the huslts from the eers oi'icorn in a manner which V understood. 4The ears are delivered yo he huslnng trough formed hy the huskingr rolls over the discharge end ot the con- 38, and the ears are carried through. 'the huslring trough by the actionL of the spiral conveyor 53., owing;f to the presence of which itis regarded as immaterial whether are arranged in a true horizontal position, or otherwise.

'lhe hushed cars are discharged over the ear ends ot the husking' rolls into an eleincluding' a troughv or casing 55 which ably supported on the main traine 'or' the inechine, the receivingend or" said elekicing disposed beneath the/discharge l: the hnslringg; trough.v 'iie elevator contains :in endless conveyor 5&6 is guided over sprockets 57, 58 on 59:, (30 at the lower and upper ends elevator casing, the shaft 59 at the oli said casing being driven by s chein or linlr belt 6i from the sin frame oi the machine supports "L post or' upright 62 constitutingr el: e hell crunk, the other erin ol" 'torinedhy a rearwardly extending rea-r end of 'which is connected super end'oi the post GQ hy a brace nell cranlr formed hy the arms i constitutes adjusting' lever for the hie -Ltreme that supports the piel-ter f .thecleener andthe conveyor trough e upper end Voi? the post or arm 62? heet the vmovzihle. :trame hy ineens of s lt will he seen that hy manipulatn'f the adjusting lever the forward end of the rainejcerrying the picking;v drum and related parts may he raised. or as to operate with equal eiliciency on down corn end-on stalks oi various lengths that are standingF upright. rlhe rear end olE the l u in the trough formed hy seid lfiusli connected with the upper forward por` lowered so i. of the adjusting lever has a handlev id s stop member 67 engaging a rack "8 whereby the adjusting lever and the ts controlled there-hy may be securely retained at various adjustments.

The rear end of the tongue '13 is supportedonn truck including` a cross bar 69 having pivoted forks 70 wherein caster wheels il are-'supported for rotation, said cast-er wheelsbeing-preferably provided with annular V-shaped grooves 72 to prevent skidding. The Shanks 73 of the forks 70 are provided with pinions ,7d engagin9;v a rack bar which is slidehl-y supported on the cross har 69 and which is also in mesh with a pinion 76 on a steering post 77 haring 'e handle 7S, whereby-it may he conveniently manipulated to simultaneously 'actuate'the wheel carry-ing 'forlzs for theV purpose .of steering-the -rnachine A platform 79' for the, operator is supported on thel cross bar (l5. An evener 80 of ordinary construction has heen shown mounted upon the tongue for the attachment of draft. l

From the foregoing description, taken' in connection with the drawings hereto annexed, the operation and advantages ol" this invention 'will he readily understood by those skilled in the art to which it appertains. 'lhe machine will operate with equal eliicieney lengthwise or transversel7 of the rows of corn, and it may, thereioreOJJ@ driven in :i circuit around the field without necessity for making a. complete turn at the ends oi the rows. `When the machine is tinveling over the field, the 'picker drum .vil l he driven or rotated, causing the picker teeth to engage the corn stalks and to strip thev ears therefrom, the ears being discharged over the drum and into the conveyor trough 3i' whence they are carried by the endless conveyer 38 to the forward end ol" the husking trough. The ears are conveyed in a rearward direction through the huslring `trough by the spiral conveyer or anger 53, and the ears will be thus turned ever and agitated, causing the husks to he seized and ystripped from the ears by the action of the coacting rolls. The ears, denuded ot' the husks, are discharged over the r end ofthe conveyer trough into the eleor casing und are conveyed through the letter by the endless conveyor 5G to a suitable receptacle, such'as the hof(- of a wagon driven 'alougside'othe machine.

it 'will hereadiily understood that the mn,- chinepby varying. the width thereof and the length of the picker cylinder may be constructed to: opera-te simultaneously upon es many rows of cornias may he desired.

'the construction is also of such a nature that it will be 'practically impossible for an wir of corn to escape being stripped by the picker lingers and gathered by the machine.

The general construction is 'simple and of par shaft and enga-ging the spaces between the picker teeth, said beating device being supported above the picker drum, and means for driving the' cleaning device to move the forward portion thereof in a downward dil rection.

2. In a corn'harvester, a picker drum supportedv for rotation, means for driving the drum to move the forwardportion thereof 1 in an upward direction, stalk engaging teeth on'said drum, saidteeth being curved and provided with fiat inner surfaces facing the drum, a shaft supported for rotation and in y'parallel relation to Athe axis of the picker.

drum, arms radiating from said shaft and 30. "{engaging the spaces intermediate the picker teeth, and means' for transmitting motion from the drum to the shaft having the ral Idial arms to move the latter forwardly and downwardly.

i; 3. In a corn harvester, a main carrying frame, lan auxiliary frame pivoted thereon and including arms constituting side members, a picker drum supported on the auxil- 'i'ary 'frame and having rows' of spaced 40- picker teeth, a -trough supported on the side members of the auxiliary frame in rear of the picker drum, an endless conveyer in said trough, suRporting means for the endless conveyer including shafts having s rockets, bevel gearing connecting one of said shafts v with the picker drum to rotate the latter, and means for driving said shaft to actuate the picker drum and the conveyer. 4; In acorn harvester, a main carrying frame, an auxiliary frame pivoted thereon, rotary supporting means for the main frame including a bull wheel, a main driving shaft supported on lthe main frame in rear of the bull wheel, means including a clutch transmitting motion to said-shaft from the bull wheel, a picker drum and a conveyer .supported on the auxiliary frame, means for driving said pickerI drum and conveyor including a shaft having. a 4knuckle joint, means for transmitting motion to vsaidshaft from the main driven shaft, a beating device supported on the auxiliary frame above the picker d'rum, and means for transmitting motion to the beating'device` from the picker drum. i j .5. Ina corn harvester, ya main carrying frame, an auxiliaryframe pivotedy thereon, a picker drum, a beatingldlevice anda vconveyer supported on the' auxiliary frame, means forv adjusting the;2 auxiliary frame` 70 and for supporting itplat",Ivariousy adjustments, rotary su porting 'means for the main frame includingza ,bullwheeh a main driven shaft supported'forrotation on the main frame and deriving'motionfrom the 75 bull wheel, a longitudinally disposed husking trough comprising ya' plurality of pairs of huskingrolls arranged in approximately semi-circular series and :supported on the main frame adjacent tothe auxiliary frame, mea-ns for driving the picker drum and the conveyor including a shaft having a knuckle joint and bevel gearing connecting said shaft with the main driven shaft, means for transmitting motion from the picker drum to the cleaning device, an operating shaft extending axially' through the husking trough, means yincluding an internal gear carried` by said shaft for transmitting motion .therefrom to the rolls constituting .the trough, a spiral conveyeron said axial shaft, an elevator includingan endl-ess conveyer supportedl ito receive husked ears discharged over `the tail end ofthe husking trough, means for transmittin fmotion to said conveyer from the sha tyvextending axially through the huskingftrough, and means for driving said sha-ft consisting of intermeshing bevel `gears mounted respectively on said shaft and on the main driven shaft.

In testimony whereof I alixmy signature in. presence of two witnesses.

FRANK n.- wnicnr..

r- 4lVitne'sses: ANDREW L. BOYD, u J oHN GILBnR'rsoN.

ammissioni-.r of ZPatents, 

